“I will never forget the cheers that erupted down the halls,” shared St. Rita High School President, Deacon John Donahue, J.D., Ed.D. “While of course I knew our Theology classrooms were watching, I never imagined the outcome would spark such an emotional response from our students. That’s when I realized — it was going to be a historic day for all of us.”

The news that stunned the Catholic world — and especially the halls of St. Rita of Cascia High School — was the election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Fr. Bob Prevost, O.S.A., as the new shepherd of the Roman Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion faithful.

“When I saw Bob’s picture appear, I had to do a double take,” said Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. ’83, Director of Community Relations at St. Rita, who has known the new pope for more than 30 years. Out of habit, Fr. Tom still refers to His Holiness as “Bob.”

“Nobody believed there would be an American pope, so it didn’t seem possible. But once the news set in, it didn’t surprise me at all. Of course it was Bob. It all made sense. He sets a high bar for all of us Augustinians, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

The news reverberated throughout the school. Students and faculty alike were stunned. Not just that there was a new pope, not just that he was American, but that he was an Augustinian pope, with deep and personal ties to St. Rita.

Founded in 1905, St. Rita High School has been operated by the Order of St. Augustine (Augustinians) for more than 120 years. The school is part of the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, commonly referred to as the Midwest Augustinians, a region Pope Leo XIV once led as Prior Provincial from 1999 to 2001. In that role, he oversaw all ministries of the Province — including St. Rita and other Augustinian high schools. During his term, he appointed Fr. Tom McCarthy as President of St. Rita in 2000.

In 2001, Fr. Prevost was elected Prior General of the entire Augustinian Order, overseeing Augustinian communities worldwide for two six-year terms. Afterward, Pope Francis appointed him to serve in Peru, ultimately becoming Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015, where he remained until 2023.

His connection to St. Rita continued through it all. During his time in Peru, Pope Leo XIV periodically returned to Chicago and joined the St. Rita student body for Masses, including the school’s annual OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) Mass. There, students celebrating sacraments such as Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation were personally blessed by the man who would become pope.

His connection goes back even further. Before his ordination in 1982, Fr. Prevost — like all Augustinian seminarians — served in ministry roles that included visiting Augustinian parishes and schools. His assignments brought him to the St. Rita campus, where he would substitute in classrooms and shadow other friars.

Over the years, he continued to visit the school, often returning to celebrate Masses with the St. Rita community.

“He walked these halls,” Deacon John said. “He prayed with our school community many times. It’s something we all feel — whether we were there at the time or not. We feel it spiritually.”

St. Rita’s current campus at 77th & Western is no stranger to papal presence. In October 1979, while the building was still Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, Pope John Paul II visited seminarians and addressed thousands on the front lawn.

“That was historic,” said Fr. Tom. “It was a proud moment for all of us in Chicago. Now, 46 years later, that feeling is back—and even stronger. It’s truly a tremendous time to be part of the St. Rita community.”

Three months later, that same feeling of pride lingers in St. Rita High School and radiating throughout the city of Chicago.

“Pope Leo XIV is changing the world, and the beginnings of his work took place here,” said Deacon John. “It’s inspiring all of us — alumni, current Ritamen, faculty. We will be using his example and guidance as a way to deepen our connection with our Augustinian values even further as we head into the 2025–26 school year.”

As the Church looks towards the future under new leadership, St. Rita High School continues to honor its past and present — forever impacted by a humble Augustinian friar who walked these halls and now leads the world.